A group of teenage girls in Perthshire have launched a new consent campaign which aims to tackle peer sexual abuse.
Created by nine young women aged 16 to 19 from Bertha Park High School, Crieff High School and Perth College, ‘Bold Girls Ken’ aims to educate young people about consent in relationships – both on and offline.
The campaign was launched at Perth Art Gallery on Wednesday and saw the introduction of a ‘consent toolkit’ for schools, parents, carers and people within the community.
The team also spoke about other work they have done so far, as well as their future plans.
The campaign hopes to ensure young people get “realistic and appropriate” information about the issue and know where to go for help and support if they need it.
Bold Girls Ken Campaign looks at what is involved in giving consent and when consent is not possible, for example, someone cannot consent to sex if they are under the age of 16 or asleep or unconscious.
The effect of alcohol, drugs or other substances can also make someone incapable of consenting.
The campaign is being delivered in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council as part of the Young Women Know project being run by NSPCC Scotland and The Young Women’s Movement.
Aimee Wallace, who attends Perth College, said: “All young people should understand what consent is and know where to go for support if it is needed.
“The project, for me, has been an empowering experience that has allowed me to be involved in a crucial step forward in improving the lives of young women.
“I hope the Bold Girls Ken campaign will increase and improve the conversations about consent because every young woman deserves to feel safe and comfortable on and offline.”
Carla Malseed, local campaigns manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Having conversations about sex and relationships can feel awkward and uncomfortable but it is important that all young people understand consent, what it looks and feels like, on and offline, and where they can get more information or support if needed.
“It’s been so inspiring to work with this talented group of young women. They’ve shared their experiences, views and ideas, to help us to create an incredibly useful toolkit to raise awareness of this important issue.
“Peer sexual abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on someone’s life, so it’s vital that young people understand the issues around consent and that they can say no at any time.”
Following the event she added: “The launch of the Bold Girls Ken in Perth was an incredible event and we’d like to thank everyone who made it happen. The speakers were great and really illustrated the importance of this campaign, which will empower girls and young women.”
Elena Soper, national programmes manager, The Young Women’s Movement (YWM), added: “It’s important for young people to understand some of the more complex issues around consent and to know that giving consent is about actively saying yes – with both your body and your language, and that both partners should understand what they are consenting to.”
Councillor Michelle Frampton, depute convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Learning and Families Committee, said: “Understanding consent is vital for young people to enjoy healthy relationships. Boys and girls must learn when consent can be given and when it cannot, and that it can be withdrawn at any time.”
The Young Women Know project was created by NSPCC Scotland and Young Women’s Movement (YWM) to address peer sexual abuse and ensure that every young woman and girl knows what a healthy relationship looks like, following two reports in 2018.
An investigation into sexual harassment in Scottish schools carried out by the YWCA’s Young Women Lead committee in 2018 found that young people were most likely to turn to the internet or their friends for advice on sex and relationships, and almost half of students and teaching staff surveyed said the current curriculum did not adequately cover the issue of consent.
In the same year, the NSPCC published a report on peer sexual abuse, which looked at contacts to its helplines.
It revealed that Childline had held more than 3,000 counselling sessions with young people across the UK about this issue in the previous year, with more than 95 per cent of the contacts being aged 12 and over.
They talked about it happening in school, in parks, at parties and other people’s houses, as well as online.
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk
Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday. Young people can also call the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre helpline on 01738 630965.
